The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-10-21
LAKE CHARLES OALCASEU PARISH LOUISIANA FRIDAY OCTOBER 1887
yVho was Last 70 surrentler

NJ Y. states.
In a speech delivered at New Roads,
Pointe Coppee parish some days ago,
Mr.. q. Howard McCaleb said
Since / surrendered the last organized
company east Of the Mississippi river, the
body guard of Jefferson Davis, have never
carried arms.
This interesting bit Of the history
of the last days Of the ConfsderNey,
as to what officer and OF what COM
mand east of the Mississippi, was the
last to surrender, is surely quite pictu-
rescue and very interesting. If Cam
bronze, at Waterloo, was made i'm
mortal because he would never sur
render at all, very near approach to
immortality surely must be the
enyiable lot of that officer, who, in =
tremendous and disastrous war, was
the last to surrender, which is next TO
not surrendering at all.
In the days Immediately after the
war we heard stories of demoFalizsd
bands of soldiers, whose maFauding
and hungry foraging had very much
embarrassed President Jefferson Davis
attempted escape to the sea. Indeed
bis small escort proved powerless to
totally suppress the lswlsss acts of
those undieiplined bands, committed
under the very eyes of Mr.. Davis. We
heard that Captain McCaleb's COM
mand, retreating IN the same direo-
ton as the President's party, overlook
them at some point near Abbeville, s,
G., and on the march between that
town aud Washington, N, c., it ia
related that Capt. McCalsb loSt con
toll of his men, who became mSrNud-
eFs, to the Captains unSpsAksble
disgust. After leaving Washington,
N. c., the Presidents party neither
saw nor heard any more of Capt, No
Caleb nor of his command.
Becoming interested in this curious
question as to what officer did in fact,
surrender last, the States addressed
a request for q written account of his
Feeolleotions to Col, Watson Van Ben,
thuyssn, whom we had often heard
said, lad followed Mr.. Davis until he
was captured near Abbeville, Ga,
Col. Van Renthuysen answers as fol
lows
Agw ORLEANS, Oor, 8, 1887
Editor Daily States,
Dear siF-In answer to your rs
quest will state that Capt. Given
Campbell commanded the last organ.
lied body acting as an escort for MF
Davis at the close of the war. The
President left Richmond, according to
my recollection, accompanied BY
what was known as the "Presinsnt''
Guard" commanded by a young Lieu
tenant having only one arm, whose
name have forgotten This organi'
cation remained, think, with us IN
til we reached Abbeyille, s. O, | had
been placed IN command Of the PTesi
dents train at Charlotte, N. C., and
upon reaching Abbeville Mr.. Davis
arranged with Capt, Campbell TO or
ganize an escort that would accompany
US to to the Frans-Mississippi Depart
mept via Florida and Cuba, and wat
requested to add any ten men ! might
select to accompany me,
During the retreat from Virginia
parts OF the various organizations Of
the army, we're with us at times, unit
we reached Washington, Ga. Aftel
leaving Washington, Ga, the entiFi
escort was composed Of the organiga
ton under Capt. Campbell, those M
der myself, aud members Of the Presi
dents staff. Capt, Campbell being
on the ground with his men, when
Mr., Davis was captured, while | eludnd
capture and preserved the train, by .
forced march in a different direction
when | found the Federal oaVelrJ
clear upon Mr.. DAVIS,
| Very respectfully,
W. VAN BENTHUYsRE.